Gravity return bump gate



Feb. 24, 1953 w. H. KOCH ET AL 2,629,191

GRAVITY RETURN BUMP GATE Filed Aug. 5, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Feb. 24, 1953 w. H. KOCH ET AL 2,629,191

GRAVITY RETURN BUMP GATE Filed Aug. 5. 1949 2 SHEETS-"SHEET 2 Patented Feb. 24, 1953 GRAVITY RETURN BUMP GATE William H. Koch, Minneapolis, and Ernest Strom, North St. Paul, Minn.; said Strom assignor to said Koch Application August 3, 1949, Serial No. 108,242

8 Claims.

This invention relatestofence gates and particularly to bumper gates which canbe actuated by bumping-a vehicle against the gate.

It is one of the objectsof the invention to providea novel and improved. bump gate of cheap and simple construction which can be employed in a fence line andwhich will normally be latched shut to prevent stockfrom passing through the fenceli'ne but which can be actuated'by a'vehiclethrough a'bump imparted by the 'vehicleto the gate to unlatch the gate and swing the gate to an :open position to permit the vehicle topass throughthe fence line without necessitating the occupant of the vehicle getting out or the vehicle'to'operate the latch ing mechanism.

Another object is to provide aswinging gate suspendedin a novel mannerrso'that without the use of springsthe gate whenswung to an open position will return to a closed 1 position.

'Another object is to provide a bumper actuated latching mechanism for. a swinging gate of novel and simple construction.

Still another object istoprovide alatch keeper mechanism which will positively hold the latching member of a gate ina latching'position but which after the gate has been opened throughretraction of the latching member from the keeper will permit ready re-engagement of the latching memberwithin the 'keeper as the gate swings to aclosed position.

Still another object is to provide in such a Theobjects and advantages of theinvention willmore fully appearfrom the-following description made. in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference: characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and in which Fig. 1 is a plarrview illustrating a gate embodying the invention, the gate being shown closed in full lines'andwwith an automobile appreaching one side of the gate,'and thegate being shown in dotted lines in swung open position; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the gate illustrated-in Fig. 1, the gate being'closed;

Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectionin enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 44s a verticalsection taken substantially onvthe line. 4-4 *of Fig. 30 as indicated by the HTFOWS;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 5--5 of 'Fig. 4 as indicated by'the arrows and showing certain portions of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a view on a still larger scale taken as in the case of Fig. 3 but showing certain of the parts in a different position than as shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a view in enlarged scale looking toward the left side of the latch keeper as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Referring to the drawings, there are shown portions of a fence 8, the two ends of which are connected respectively to a fixed post 9 mounted in the ground and a latch post II] also mounted in the ground at a point spaced from the post! sufficient for the convenient travel of vehicles such as the automobile A between the two posts 9 and I0. Mounted alongside the post!) isanother post ll running to a considerably greater height than the post 9, and the post I l is sometimes hereafter referred to as a pivot post and. sometimes hereafter referred to as a gate hanging post.

There is provided a gate'frame including a pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars 12 connected to a pairof spaced vertical bars I3 and 14! respectively whereby a gate frameof rectangular shape is produced. The swinging end of the gate frame may be'considered to be the end where the vertical bar I4 is located; while the pivot end of the gate frame may be considered to be'the end where the vertical bar It is located.

Connected to the pivot end of the gate frame are a pair of vertically spaced collars 15 which loosely encircle the pivot post H so that the gate frame may freely Swing around the pivot post I I about the central vertical axis of the post. At the same time the collars 15 will be free to ride upwardly and downwardly on the post H duringthis swinging movement. In spaced relation toward the vertical bar M from the vertical bar 13 an upwardly projecting lug I6 is mounted on the top horizontal bar I Zof the gate frame and connected at its lower end to this lug I6 is a chain H or equivalent flexiblesupporting member. The upper end of the chain 111 is secured as by a bolt I8 to the pivot post ll well above the level of thegate frame and at a point eccentric to the pivotal axisabout which the gate frame swings and disposed-at the side of the pivot post H toward the latch post i0. Accordingly, thegate frame will assume its lowest position when thegate frame is located as shown in full lines Fig. land asalso shown in Fig.2 with the gate frame disposed between the two. posts I I and it so that the bar M of the gate frame is adjacentthe latching post it. In other words, this lowest position of the gate frame will be assumed when the gate frame lies in substantially the same plane as the plane within which is located the pivotal axis about which the gate frame swings and the point where the upper portion of the chain I1 is attached to the pivot post II. It will be seen that as the gate frame is swung either clockwise or counterclockwise from this central position, as the length of the chain I'l between the lug l6 and the bolt it remains the same and as the point where the upper portion of the chain is attached by the bolt l8 to the pivot post H is eccentric of the pivotal axis about which the frame swings, the gate frame must rise vertically somewhat from its lowered central position.-

Accordingly, after the gate frame has been swung ,to an open position the collars i 5 will have raised somewhat on the pivot post H and as the limit of, the swing is reached gravity acts to tend to re-- turn the gate frame to its original central position between the two posts ill and II. Accordingly,.the gate frame will return by gravity to its closed or central position, this closing movement being accomplished without the use of springs and without the use of a counterbalancing weight." It should be stated that the point of "connection of the lower end of the chain i! to pair at the left of the longitudinal central portion of the gate frame are secured one at either side of the two bars [2, while the other two bars 19 forming the pair located to the right of the longitudinal central portion of the frame are similarly secured, Accordingly, the bars at the same sideof the gate frame in the two pairs oppose each other in longitudinally spaced relation, while similarly the bars at the opposite side of the frame oppose each other in longitudinally spaced relation. Intermediate the top and bottom bars i2 there is provided a central horizontal bar 23 which extends between and is secured'to the four vertical bars [9, the ends of the bar 23 being located between the individual bars IQ of the two pair. This bar 20'a't its'right end carries an apertured upstandinglug 2| which is in alignment horizontally with an opening Ma provided in the vertical bar 14. A latching rod 22 which is horizontally disposed is slidably received within the opening in the lug 2i and in the opening Ma and the'right end of this latching rod is projectable laterally of the right hand vertical bar H! of the gate frame and it is also retractable within the outline of the said right hand bar M. The rod 22 carries a collar 23 to the right of the lug 2| and a heavy coiled spring 24 encircles the rod 22 and bears at one end against the lug 2i and at its other end against the collar 23, thereby normally urging the rod 22 to the right as viewed in the drawings Figs. 1, 2 and 3 to project the end of the rod normally adjacent the latching post l3- outwardly from the vertical bar l4 of the frame'toward the latching post.

Connected by pivots 25 to oppositely disposed c '4 lugs 26 welded or otherwise secured to the top bar l2 of the gate frame and located intermediate the two pair of vertical bars I9 are a pair of bumper bars 21. These bumper bars project downwardly from the top bar i2 of the gate frame topoints adjacent the lower bar [2 of the frame and bolted or otherwise secured to the lower outer portions of the bumper bars 21 are strips 28 formed of wood or resilient material or other material that will not readily mar or injure such parts as the bumper of an automobile as the bumper strikes the same. Strap-like guides 29 are secured respectively to the lower ends of the respective pairs of vertical bars I9, and the central portions of these strap guides are spaced apart to form guideways for the lower ends of the bars-2l respectively, and one of these links,'asr

the link'32, is located above the level of the other link 33. The link 32 at its inner end is connected by a pivot 35 to the remote side portion of one arm of the lever plate 3| from the particular bumper bar 21 to which this link 32 is'also pivotally connected. Similarly, the other link 33 is connected by a pivot 35a to the remote side portion of the same arm of the lever from the particular bumper bar 21 to which the link 33 is also pivotallyrconnected. Of course, one of the links 132 lies above the lever plate 3|, while the other link 33' lies below the lever plate so that the two links will not interfere with each other. The opposite arm of the lever plate 3| from that to which the two links 32 and 33 are connected is connected to the inner end of the rod 22 by a double linkage consisting of a pair of link rods 36 and a connection plate 31 mounted on the inner end portion of the latch rod 22 and secured in place thereon by opposed jamb nuts 38. The two link rods project loosely through openings 31a in the attaching plate 31 and have heads 36a at the outer side of the plate 31 which prevent the two link rods from being drawn completely through the openings 31a in an inward direction. The inner end portions 36b of the link rods 33 are bent first upwardly to form pivots extending through openings 3m in the lever plate 3! and they are then bent inwardly above the lever plate to retain them in position. The two openings 3la in the lever plate through which the link rods 36 extend are formed in the arm of the lever plate opposite that to which the links 32 and 33 are pivotally connected, and these openings are located one adjacent each side edge of the said arm.

There is shown as being secured to the latch post Ill a latch keeper which is designated as an entirety by the letter B, this keeper being best shown in Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings. The said keeper includes a plate 39 which may be secured to the latch post H! as by bolts 39s or by welding, the plate being located so as to'project somewhat below and above the level of the latch rod 22. Secured to the face of the keeper plate 39 facing the gate frame is an inverted V shape base member 40, the said base member having aflattened top surface 40a at approximately the level of the lower portion of the latch rod 22.

iurgestheltwo keeper arms 42 to this position. i'will be understood that the outer end of the -latchr=rod :22 when projected outwardly beyond ."the vertical bar I4 at the swinging end of the -Mounted onpivots' '4 I 5 attachedi to the same face of the plate 39 are a pair of keeper arms 42'which project downwardly from the pivots and have mutt'urnetlEiend' portions 42a= adapted to normally res't -on 'the flattened 'portion 4Ia of the base member. I Whenso'resting on the said flattened portion' the "two outturned ends 42a are spaced apart a distance sufiiciently greater than the di- =ameter"ofthe latch trod 22that if the latch rod is carried against one of the two end portions 42a ofrone of rthekeeper arms the lower portion ot thezotherikeeper arm'may be swung upwardly olearither'projectingendof the latch rod 22.

@Attachedvto thezupper. portions of the keeper :arms 4Iiaretangularhandles443:to1the inner ends -of' 'iwhic'htthe ends of aslight tension spring 44 saretconneeted. While: gravity willnormally. hold rztheilowerzoutturned 'end'portions I of the keeper :arms;42=in'jpositionzresting'on the flattened por- 4Ila of the base'member 40, the spring 44 It gate. frame" is of sufiicientylength to be received :overthe flattened portion Mia-of the base memtberiof the-keeper, when the gate frame has been swung. to the proper position, to normally be dis* posedbetwe'en the 'two-outturned ends 42a" of the keeper arms 42. The inclined upper edges of the basemember lo will guide the latch rod into thisxposition and it will be appreciated that as the gate frame approaches its central position it will strike the lower surface of one of the two ikeeper arms 42; thereby raising that particular :keeper' arm to allow the projecting end of the latch \rod 'to pass below it to the central point shown in Fig. '7.

."l he gateframe formed by the horizontal bars I2 andthe vertical bars I3 and I4 will have suit- :ableyertical and cross fence wire 45 attached .thereto to prevent thepenetration of animals through the gate frame. If desired, upper and lowerlines-of barbed wire 46 may bestrung ber'tweenwthe upperand lowerend portions of the two vertical bars I3 and I4. There are fixed to the" right hand "vertical bars I9 and to the vertical'bar I4'at the swinging end of the gate frame aat:at least-two levels U-shaped guards 41 which areemployedtoprevent the fencewires 45 of the -gateor other-parts thereof from catching and 't'angling with :the' front portionof a vehicle as .:the gate swings .relativeto the vehicle either on "aiswingingmovement away from the vehicle or "towardi it. Also carried by the vertical bar It at'the swinging; end of the gate are upper and lowerroller brackets 49 which project outwardly -at the two sidesof the "gateand have journaled therein trunnion equipped rollers 50. These rolliers5ll are located outwardly from the guards 4? and are'forthe purpose of permitting the swingingjend portion of the gate to roll freely over (such aszthe automobile. A through the fence: line the automobile is driven directly against the central portion of the gate, whereupon the forward portion of the vehicle, usually the bumper, will strike the particular bumper bar 21' at the particular side of the gate toward which the vehicle approaches. As one'of the bumper bars H is struck and bumped by the vehicle, the lower portion of this bumper bar will be swung inwardly relative to the gate frame, whereby through whichever one of the two links 32 or 331 is connected to that particular bumper bar the lever plate 3| will be swung. and one of the two link rods 3'6 will be swung inwardly as from the .position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 6. Thereby, the latch rod 22 will be slid inwardly to retractthe portion of thesame projecting beyond the vertical bar 49 inwardly to withdraw it from between the two. projecting end portions 42a of the two keeper arms 42. This releases the latch rod from the keeper and permits the gate to freely swing open in the direction of travel of the vehicle. While the gate is swung'to a wide open position the vehicle is driven through the opening in the fence line between the two posts it and It beyond a point which will clear the gate during its return swing. The gate will be swung back by gravity to its central position bridging the two posts I I and III as has been previously described, and as the gate swings back the latch rod which has returned to its original projected position will be engaged between the two keeper arms 42 as has been previously described, thereby relatching the gate. The spring 24 is heavy enough so that even if a cow or horse should strike one of the bump bars 2? the gate will not be unlatched. It will take quite a sharp blow from the vehicle toproduce the unlatching action.

t should be noted that. due to the cross connection of the two links 32 and 33 to opposite portions of the lever arm of the lever plate 3| thelever plate will be given a considerable arouate'movement as one of the bumper bars 21 is actuated without throwing the various pivots connecting the links to the bumper bars and to the lever plate greatly out of alignment.

After one or two experiences in connection withthe gate the driver'of the vehicle will soon learn at what speed he should drive his vehicle in rder to unlatch the gate to swing it sufiicient- 1y wide open to clear the vehicle and allow the vehicle time enough to pass beyond the reach of the gate on its return movement without the gatestriking the. vehicle duringits return move- -ment. The guards 4'! and the roller 50 will act to prevent injury to any partsof the vehicle. or

.catchingoi any parts of the vehicle on the gate if 'for' any reason the gate is not swung open violently enough toprevent portions of the forward end of the vehicle from brushing against the gate after one of the bumper bars 21 has first been struck.

For pedestrian use of the gate, it is desirable that it bepossible to open the gate without actuating one of the two bumper bars 27. The latching mechanism can be disengaged readily by a pedestrian by the pedestrians grasping one of the two handles'tii and swinging the handle downwardly, thereby'swinging the lower portion of one of the keeper arrns 42 upwardly, whereupon the gate may be pushed open.

It will be seen that a highly efiective bump gate of cheap and simple construction'has been provided.

Itwillnof-course, be understood that various changes'may be made in the form, details arrangement, and proportions of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention which, generally stated, consists in the matter, shown, and described, and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

-' 1. A bumper actuated latch for use in conjunction with a gate frame having a pivot end and a swinging end mounted between a pivot 'post and a latch post for swinging movement -of the gate frame about the pivot post to open and closed positions, said latch including a bumper bar pivotally connected on a substantially horizontal axis to said frame and projecting vertically from its pivotal mounting at one :side of the gate frame and in spaced relation diate its length for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a link pivotally connecting said bumper bar to one end portion of said lever, and a linkage between the other end portion of said lever and said latch member retracting said latch member from said keeper as said lever is swung in one direction. 7

2. The structure defined in claim 1, said keeper comprising a base over which the end of said latch member projecting from the swinging end of the gate frame may travel and a pair of arms pivotally mounted above said base, one at either side of the central portion thereof, said arms being adapted to receive the projecting end of the latch member therebetween and there being sufficient clearance between said two arms when resting on said base to permit either arm to be swung upwardly to clear the latch member, thereby permitting swinging of the gate frame without actuating one of said bumper bars.

3. A bumper actuated latch for use in conjunction with a gate frame having a pivot end and a swinging end mounted between a pivot post and a latch post for swinging movement of the gate frame about the pivot post, said latch including a pair of bumper bars pivotally connected on a substantially horizontal axis to the gate frame and respectively projecting vertically 'at the two sides of the gate frame centrally of the two ends thereof in position such that one of the bumper bars will be struck by a vehicle driven in either direction to pass between the two posts, a latch member mounted on the gate frame for extension and retraction of a portion thereof from the swinging end of the frame, resilient means urging said latch member to extended position, a latchkeeper adapted to be mounted on the latch post for receiving the latch memher when extended, a lever pivotally mounted on said frame between said bumper bars, a pair of links respectively pivotally connected with the respective bumper bars and also pivotally connected to said lever, and a linkage between said lever and said latch member retracting said latch member against the tension of said resilient means as said lever is actuated by inward movement of one of said bumper bars toward said frame. a V I 4. The structure defined in claim 3 and guides mounted adjacent said bumper bars guiding the travel of said bumper bars in a direction transverse to said frame and preventing deformation of said bumper bars which would otherwise take place as a result of said bumper bars becoming entangled with portions of the bumper of the vehicle.

5. A bumper actuated latch for use in conjunction with a gate frame having a pivot end and, a swinging end mounted between a pivot post and a latch post for swinging movement of the gate frame about the pivot post, said latch including a pair of bumper bars pivotally connected at their upper ends on a substantially horizontal axis to the gate frame and respectively projecting downwardly at the two opposite sides of the gate frame intermediate the two ends thereof in position such that one of the bumper bars will be struck by a vehicle driven in either direction to pass between the two posts, a latch rod slidably mounted in horizontal relation on the frame for extension and retraction of an outer end portion thereof from the swinging end of the frame, resilient means urging said latch member to the extended position, a latch keeper adapted to be mounted on the latch post to receive the outer end portion of said latch rod when extended, a single levermounted for swinging movement about a vertical pivot on the gate frame between the two bumper bars, links respectively pivotally connected at their outer ends to the respective bumper bars and extending toward each other and having their inner ends pivoted'to the inner end portion of said lever, and a linkage between opposite side portions of the outer end of said lever and said latch rod for retracting said latch rod against the tension of said resilient means as either one of said bumper bars is swung inwardly relative to said frame.

6. A bumper actuated latch for use in conjunction with a gate frame having a pivot end and a swinging end mounted between a pivot post and a latch post for swinging movement of the gate frame about the pivot post, said latch including a pair of bumper bars pivotally connected at their upper ends on a substantially horizontal axis to the gate frame and respectively projecting downwardly at the two sides of the gate frame intermediate the two ends thereof in position such that one of the bumper bars will be struck by a vehicle driven in either direction to pass between the two posts, alatch rod mounted for horizontal sliding movement in the gate frame and for extension and retraction of a portion thereof from the swinging end of the frame, resilient means urging said latch member to extended position, a latch keeper adapted to be mounted on the latch post for receiving said latch member when extended, a lever plate pivotally mounted on the gate frame for swinging movement about a vertical pivot between said two bumper bars, a pair of links respectively pivotally connected at their outer of, said link rods being loosely slidably received in said head and having head engaging portions at their ends remote from said lever plates.

7. A bump gate comprising a gate frame having a pivot end and a swinging end, means for mounting said gate frame between a pivot post and a latch post for swinging movement about the pivot post and for return to a position at rest between the two posts, a pair of bumper bars pivotally connected at their upper ends on a substantially horizontal axis to said gate frame and respectively projecting downwardly at opposite sides of the gate frame midway the length of the gate frame in position such that one of the bumper bars will be struck by the approaching end of a vehicle driven in either direction to pass between the two posts, a latch member mounted on said gate frame for extension and retraction of a portion thereof from the swinging end of the frame, resilient means urging said latch member to an extended position, a latch keeper for receiving the latch member when extended, a lever disposed horizontally and pivotally mounted on said frame about a vertical axis between said bumper bars, a pair of links having outer ends pivotally connected to the respective bumper bars and extending toward each other and having inner ends pivotaliy connected to said lever, linkage between said lever and said latch member retracting said latch member against the tension of said resilient means as said lever is actuated by inward movement of one of said bumper bars toward said frame, and

, guide elements mounted at the lower portion of said frame preventing entanglement of said bumper bars with portions of the bumper of the vehicle as it passes between the posts and conse quent deformation of said cars and guiding the travel of said bumper bars in a direction transverse to said frame.

8. The structure of claim 13 wherein the pivot post for the gate is, disposed upright and the gate frame carries upper and lower collars projecting from the pivot end of the gate frame longitudinally thereof, said collars fitting loosely about the pivot post for turning movement thereabout concentric with the axis thereof and thereby mounting the gate frame for swinging movement about the post and also for vertical sliding movement along the pivot post during the swinging movement, and a single flexible supporting member constituting the sole vertical hanger for the gate frame, said flexible member extending along a straight line from the pivot post at a downward incline and disposed directly over the gate frame in the vertical plane thereof, said flexible member having its lower inner end secured to the gate and spaced from the pivot end of the gate, and a fastener securing the outer upper end of the flexible member to the pivot post at a point about the circumference thereof presented directly towards the gate when closed whereby the gate is slid upwardly along the pivot post when swung about the said post to an opened position and the gate when returned moves by gravity to its closed position.

WILLIAM H. KOCH. ERNEST STROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 217,260 Brady July 8, 1879 402,501 Ball Apr. 30, 1889 404,391 Dyer June 4, 1889 786,084 Anderson Mar. 28, 1905 1,237,835 Stapish Aug. 21, 1917 1,359,764 Somers Nov. 23, 1920 1,798,699 Ralston Mar. 31, 1931 1,802,599 Gross Apr. 28, 1931 2,076,092 Pinard Apr. 6, 1937 2,118,722 Bock May 24, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,609 Australia May 31, 1928 

